Port-light for marine craft.



No. 638,758. A Patented nec. m, lauf. R. J. vlcon. y

PUBT LIGHT FUR MARINE GRAF-T.

lplication med July e, 1900.) N o Il o d e I 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

CSCO-Cwwne, CLJL A Tram/Ey No. 688,758. Patented Dec. l0, |90I.

R. J. VICTOR.

PURT LIGHT FDR MARINE CRAFT.

f lppxintion med .my e, 1900,)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nrrnn STATES raton."

arnwr PORT-LIGHT FOR MARINE CRAFT.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,758, dated December 10, 1901- Application filed July 6, 1900. Serial No. 22,698. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may con/ecrit:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. VICTOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Port-Light for'Marine Craft, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a port-light for marine craft ot' all sorts of an extremely simple and cheap form ot' construction, so made that the danger of leakage is reduced to a minimum and facility of repair increased to the highest degree.

To such ends-my invention consists in substance of a port-frame, of brass or other suitable metal, having an outwardly-flaring flatsurfaced annular flange surrounding the orice thereof, which flange is provided on its inner side with a knife-edge adapted to coact with` a suitable packing-ring carried by the portsash, so as to form a water-tight joint when the two are forced together, a port-sash hinged or pivoted to the port-frame and carrying a glass held in place by a ring having a recess for holding the packing-ring before mentioned, the hinged or pivoted connection being so constructed that the port-sash may be forced bodily against the port-frame, so that the pressure will be the same at all points of contact between thern,'and such connection being provided withan elastic body or spring normally forcing the hinged side of the port-sash away from the port-frame, and a plurality of thumb-screws or similar devices, some of which may or may not be located in the hinges, for forcing the port-sash bodily into contact with the port-frame and securing the same in such position, although it is not to be understood that my invention is limited to the exact construction shown and described, as the same consists of the cornbination ot' certain devices and parts and the particular construction and arrangement of certain devices and parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

My said invention is fully shown and described in the following specification', of which the accompanying drawings form a part, wherein similar numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which- Figure l is an inside plan view of one form of my improved port-light, one of the securing-bolts being shown in cross-section, and the screws used, sometimes alone, to secure the hinged side in a modified form of securing device in which the securing-screws are combined with the hinges being also shown; and Fig. 2 is a side view ot' Fig. l in crosssection on the line y yy thereof, the securingscrew shown in section in Fig. l and its accompanying lug being omitted. Fig. 3 is an outside view of one of the port-frame hingelugs, showing the hinge-boltjournal-box and its rubber spring in position therein; and Fig. t is a side View of such construction, in central vertical section, lookingfrom the left of Fig. 3, the port-sash hinge-lug being shown in its proper position, and in both Figs. 3 and 4 the th umh-screws for forcing down the hinge side of the port-sash being shown in position, but broken off below the wing or thumb receiving portion. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View in detail ot' one side of the vport-light, showing more clearly than Fig. l the exact construction; and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a top plan and a side View, in central vertical section, of a modified form of construction using a different device for securing and forcing inward the hinged side of the portsash.

Referring to the drawings, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the reference-numeral ll designates the port-frame, the main portion of Which consists of a flat ring provided with screw-holes (not shown) for the reception of screws for securing the same in the sliips side in the Well-known manner or any other means may be used for such purpose. This flat ring is provided with a central orifice surrounded by an inwardly and outwardly extending flange 7, the periphery of which on the outer side of the ring ll is at substantially a right angle to the plane of such ring ll, as shown at 3l, so that the same will lit water-tight in the orifice prepared to receive it in the skin of the ship whether such skin be ot' wood or metal. The flange 7 is flat-surfaced ou the interior annular side or wall, butflares outwardly on such surface, usually at an angle of from ten degrees upward, so that the cir- IOC) culnference of the outer edge is considerably greater than that of the somewhat sharper interior annular knife-edge 29, against which the packing-ring of the port-sash abuts, so as to make a water-tight joint, as hereinafter described.

l I am aware that port-frames have been made with outwardly-flaring orifices, the flaring surface of which was curved; butin such construction, as in the common form, without anylare whatsoever, there exists a tendency to allow the water which washes into the flange, especially when the ship is heeled greatly toward the opposite side, to remain held in such flange at the lower side, Where it abuts against the portfsash packing-ring, by which, if there be the slightest defect in the packing-joint at. that point, it will ultimately leak. With my constrnction-namely, a flatsurfaced flange flaring outwardly in a straight line at an angle of from ten degrees upward, according to the type of craft on which it is used-the slant ofthe llange'at the lower side will cause the wash lo run out the instant after it has entered and there will be no permanent puddle of water lying adjacent to the joint at the lower side of theorifice, as is the case even with the cn'rved surfaced outwardly-flaringflangesherctolore used in portframes.

ltwill of course be understood without furlher explanation that the port-frame and its flanged orifice are usually of the circular form shown and that such parts as are not explicitly stal ed to be of glass or rubber or other materials are usually formed of brass, although any suit-able materials and any suitable contours of form may be used with equal effect. Secured to or cast integral with the ring 11 of the port-frame and extending inward are one` or more port-frame hinge-lugs 14, usually t'wo'in number, as shown, and likewise a snitable number of pairs of shorter lugs 16, between each pair of which is pivotally secured by a pivot-pin 19 a suitable securing-bolt 17,

.provided with a screw-thread adapted to receive a suitable winged thumb-nut 18.

In the larger sizes of port-lights the securingbolts are usually three in number, as shown in Fig. 1, but in some cases only two may be used, and in others one or more of the screwbolts may be combined with the hinge, as hereinaf'ter more particularly described.

Secured to or formed integral with the portsash frame 12 are securing-lugs 15, provided with the open-ended slots 22, which register with the securing-bolts 17, which may be swung in and out of the same, as shown, and the port-sash thereby by manipulation of the thumb-screws 18 be pressed against the portframe or released from pressure and swung open, all in the well-known manner.

Secured to or formed integral with the portsash frame 12 are one or more hinge-lugs 13, usually two in number, as shown, which are usually spacedl such a distance apart as to abut upon the outward sides of the correspending portframe hinge lugs 14, and through these pass a pivot-pin 10, which is held in place by being riveted down at the ends or in any other suitable manner.

It is evident that in a swinging port-sash, where it is absolutely necessary that a tight joint be made between the same and the portframe, and especially where a packing-ring of soft material, such as rubber, abuts against a rigid metallic annular seat, as is usually the case in port-lights, when the hinged connection is capable of no inward-and-outward motion the tightness of the joint will have a tendency to be first impaired on the side adjacent tothe hinge and that upon leakage appearing at such`point further tightening of the securing-screws will only tend to increase such leakage. It is also evident that if a hinged joint having merely sufficient play be used to connect the port-sash with the port-frame this will make a loose and awkwardly-swinging connection, which will tend to become rapidly more loose with use. Both of these difficulties I overcome by providing the hinged connection with an elastic device, either of rubber or metal, preferably of elastic rubber, as shown, which normally keeps the hinged side of the port-sash forced away from the port-frame with sufficient force to prevent any sagging or wabbling of such portsash when swung into the open position, but which will at the same time yield to pressure, so as to make the joint between the two as perfect on the hinge side as on the front. In this new and improved form of hinge for portlights, &c., which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, the port-frame hinge-lugs or standards 14 are each provided with a slot 31',

which preferably extends entirely through the same and is provided on the side against which the hinge-lugs of the port-sash will abut with an annular rabbet or recess entirely surrounding the same. Located in the bottom of this slot 31 is an elastic spring 32, extending into and through the slot, whichis provided with a flange 32 on the bottom and sides, fitting into and filling the chamber of the slot. The slot 31 is preferably of semicircular form at the top, and fitting tightly into this top portion, so as to slightly compress the elastic or other rubber spring 32 below it, is a brass or other suitable metallic journal-box 34, chamfered on the rear lower side, so as to be more readily forced in on top of the spring 32, which spring is first placed in position, which journal-box 34 is provided at the top and sides with a flange 34', fitting in the chamfer of the slot. After the spring 32 and box 34 are placed in position in the slot the pivot-pin 10 is passed through the journal-boxes 34 and through the hinge-lug 13 of the port-sash, which hinge-lug 13 is, as shown, of sufficient Width to nearly cover the spring 32, as well as the journal-box 34, and it will be seen that by this construction and arrangement whereas the flanges 32 and 34' prevent the spring and journalbox from IOO " esente away from the lug 13, such lug 13 prevents their working out toward it, whereby disarrangement of either the spring or journal-box is absolutely prevented. Y

In some cases the port-frame hinge-l ugs 14 are screw-threaded at the top and provided, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, with screwbolts 38, which when screwed down will force the journal box or boxes 34 inward, and when this construction is used it is only necessary to have one securing-bolt at the other andV forward side of the port-frame.

With a water-tight joint formed between the same and the abutting parts by means of white lead, litharge, or any suitable cement the glass of the port-light is secured in the port-sash as follows: On the inner side it rests upon a narrow inwardly-turned flange 24 of the port-sash proper and is forced into and held in such position by the pressure of a ring 2'7, rmly secured to the port-sash by screws 26 passing through the peripheral fiange 27" of such ring into suitable screwthreaded holes formed in the port-sash or in semicircular columns formed integral there` with, as shown in Fig. 5 at 40. This glass-retaining ring 27 is preferably of the L shape in cross-section,which is shown in Figs.2,5,and 7, having the outer peripheral flange 27 abutting snugly at the outer edge against the peripheral wall of a shouldered annular recess in the port-sash, from the inner edge of which liange 27 extends outward at a right angle thereto the flange 27', so that when in position inthe port-sasharectangularannularrecessis left between the flange 27 and the peripheral wall of the annular recess in the port-sash, in which recess rests a packing-ring of any suitable material 28, preferably soft rubber, against which the knife-edge 29 of the flange 7 of the port-frame abuts when the port-sash is screwed down against the same, so as to form a water-tight joint between them. It will be seen that by this construction the heads of the screws 26 are completely covered by the packing-ring 28 and that the greater the pressure on the packing-ring the tighter will the joint between such ring and the glass and the port-sash be made. In addition the port-sash and ring are of such shape that they are easier and more cheaply turned up to tit than in the forms now used.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a slightly-modified form of construction, wherein the hinge pivot-pin lOis cut in two and one of the securing-bolts l7located between the port-frame hinge-lugs 14, in which it is evident that the portsasl1 securing-lug 15 will be swung out from under the thumb-nut 18 when it is swung back,

' whereby but little manipulation ot such nut will ever be necessary, and that in consequence this rear securing-bolt may be formed integral with or screwed permanently into the port-frame instead of being pivoted, as is the front securing screw-bolt.

It is evident that many modifications in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the various parts of my improved port-light other than those mentioned may be made, and I do not intend to limit myself to any particular form thereof or manner of combining the same-as, for instance, I do not limit myself to a hinge-spring 34 of rubber, as any suitable spring, whether of rubber, the., or of metal, may be used, all with equal facility, without in the least departing from the scope of my invention.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hinge for port-lights, dac., a portframe hinge-lug having a longitudinal slot provided on one side with an annular rabbet or recess, a metallic journal-box located in one end of the slot, a body of elastic material such as soft india-rubber located in the outer end of the slot so as to normally force the journalbox to the extremity of its end of` the slot, both the journal-box and the rubber having suitable langes fitting in the rabbet orannular recess of the slot, a port-sash hinge lug or standard located on the rabbeted side of the slotted standard andcovering the journal-box and rubber so as to prevent outward movement thereof, and a pivot-pin passing through the journal-box and through the port-sash hinge lug or standard, substantially as shown and described. i i

2. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash, of a glass, a glass-retaining ring of L shape in cross-section secured to the port-sash, and a ring of packing material located in the L-angle of the retaining-ring and between the same and the annular wall of the port-sash, substantially-as shown and described.

3. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash, of a glass, a glass-retaining rin g of L shape in cross-section secured to the port-sash by screws, and a ring of packing material located in the L-angle of the retaining-ring and between the same and the annular wall of the port-sash so as to conceal the heads of the screws from view, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash having a forward flange 24, of a glass 23 abutting against the flange 24, a shouldered annular recess in the port-.sash on the other side of the glass, a retaining-ring of L shape in cross-section secured in such annular recess by screws 26, and a packing-ring located in the bangle of the retaining-ring so as to conceal the heads of the screws 2G, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash of a glass carried thereby, a ring for retaining the glass in position provided with an annular rabbet or recess, screws passing through one wall of the rabbet or recess into the port-sash so as to secure the ring thereto, and a ring of packing material lo- IOC) IIO

cated in the annular rabbet or recess and concealing the screw heads, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash, of a glass carried thereby, a ring for retaining the glass in position, screws securing the ring to the port-sash, and a ring of packing material so located as to conceal the heads of the screws from view, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-sash, of a glass, a glass-retaining ring of L shape in cross-section, screws securing the retaining-ring to the port-sash, a ring of packing material located in the L-angle of the retaining-ring and between the same and the annular wall of the port-sash so as to conceal the heads of the screws from view, a portfraine, a hinge lug or lugs secured to the portframe having a longitudinal slot provided on one side with an annular rabbet or recess, a metallic journal-boX-located in one end of the slot, a body'of elastic material such as soft india-rubber located in the outer end of the slot so as to normally lforce the journal-box to the extremity of its end of the slot, both the journal-box and the rubber having suitable iianges litting in the annular rabbet or recess of the slot, a hinge lug or lugs secured to the port-sash so located as to abut against the coacting port-frame lug on the rabbeted side of the slot so as to prevent movement in that direction of the journal-box or rubber, and a pivot pin or pins passing through the journal box or boxes and through the coacting portsash hinge lug or lugs, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-frame having an outwardly-daring straight surfaced` annular flange provided with an inner knife-edge,of a port-sash hinged to the port-frame, a glass, a glass-retaining ring of L shape in cross-section, screws securing the retaining-ring to the port-sash and a ring of packing material located in the annular recess between the L-shaped retainingring and the port-sash so as to conceal the screws from view; the construction being such that the knife-edge of the annular flange of the port-frame will abut against the annular packing-ring when the port-sash is forced against such port-frame, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a marine port-light, the combination with a port-frame having an outwardly-flaring straight surfaced annular flange provided with an inner knife-edge, of a port-sash, a glass, a glass-retaining ring of L shape in cross-section, screws securing the retainingring to the port-sash, a ring of packing material located in the annular recess between the L-shaped retaining-ring and the port-sash so as to conceal the screws from view, a hinge lug or lugs secured to the port-frame having a longitudinal slot provided on one side with an annnlarrabbet or recess, a metallic journal-box located in one end of the slot, a body of elastic material such as soft india-rubber located in the outer end of the slot so as Lto normally force the journal-box to the eX- tremity of its end of the slot, both the jonrnal-box and the rubber having suitable dan ges fitting in the annular rabbet or recess of the slot, a hinge lug or lugs secured to the portsash so located as to abut against the coacting port-frame lug on the rabbeted side of the slot so as to prevent movement'in that direction of the journal-box or rubber, means for pivotally connecting the port-sash hinge lug or lugs with the journal box or boxes, and means for forcing the port-sash bodily against the port-frame and securing the same in such position, the construction being such that the knife-edge of the annular flange of the portframe will abut against the ring of packing material, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at the city of New York, in the State of New York, this 31st day of May, A'. D. 1900. v

- ROBERT J. VICTOR.

Witnesses: W. G. KAMMERER, f

F. MILLS. 

